Pneumatic tool system

Abstract

A tool system is provided and includes a securing element, a hammer element configured to drive a member toward the securing element and first and second orientation elements rigidly disposed on the securing and hammer elements, respectively. The securing and hammer elements have respective operational axes and the first and second orientation elements respectively include orientation sensors configured to cooperatively determine a relative orientation of the respective operational axes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a National Stage application of PCT / US2016 / 020088, filed Feb. 29, 2016, which claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 127,043, filed Mar. 2, 2015, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a pneumatic tool system and, more particularly, to a zero-tilt pneumatic tool system including a hammer and bucking bar.[0003]The process of fastening rivets in an aircraft fuselage is an extremely manual process, one that causes a lot of scrap and rework. The process requires that a bucking bar be held by one operator on one side of the fuselage while another operator holds a pneumatic hammer on the other side. The operator holding the pneumatic hammer actuates the pneumatic hammer to drive a rivet toward the bucking bar and into the fuselage.[0004]In order for the process to result in an acceptable riveted j...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a tool system that includes a securing element and a hammer element, which work together to drive a member towards the securing element. The securing and hammer elements have respective operational axes, which are determined by orientation sensors on the first and second orientation elements. The orientation elements may include display units to show information about the relative orientation. The hammer element may include a trigger, a trigger lock, and a controller to control the trigger lock based on the relative orientation. The tool system also includes a wobble servo to re-orient the operational axis of the hammer element. The technical effects of this invention include precise control of the hammer element's driving force and direction, improved efficiency in rivet driving, and reduced wear and tear on the tool system.

Problems solved by technology

The process of fastening rivets in an aircraft fuselage is an extremely manual process, one that causes a lot of scrap and rework.

However, since the operators often have difficulty holding the two elements in place at their proper respective orientations and cannot see through the fuselage to judge how they might improve those orientations, the operators can only manually hold the bucking bar and the pneumatic hammer while estimating the respective orientations.

The difficulties noted above tend to result in crooked or otherwise malformed rivets that need to be scrapped and reworked.

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